Warm meals, familiar faces, and moments of reflection often mark Thanksgiving. Families across the United States celebrate Thanksgiving Day differently, and we all likely look forward to our various traditions. Some may look forward to watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, having a large traditional family meal, and cutting a roasted turkey. Many Americans also look forward to watching football, frying their turkey, and shopping the Black Friday sales. One tradition I have always thought was odd is watching a different holiday type of movie, e.g., some channels even play the same Christmas movie on repeat — The Christmas Story (1983). Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great movie, but it’s not Christmas yet! 

What do I look forward to the most about the Thanksgiving holiday? While I’m not a huge fan of turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, I do love some southern pecan pie (specifically made with dark Karo syrup) and these two traditions: 

1. My family and I love to join thousands of people at the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It’s such a fun event! The city blocks off various streets in Downtown Dallas, but many businesses engage with those who run, trot or walk. So many people also bring out their dogs dressed in costumes to enjoy the usually traffic-jammed, famous streets of Dallas. 
2. After the Thanksgiving meal, I also love to watch the fantastic comedy movie —  Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) for my tryptophan coma. I may be the only one watching it at home, but I love to watch it and fall asleep on the couch. 

Thanksgiving may also be when gratitude fills the air, sometimes quickly and sometimes with a little effort. But overall, for many, the holiday is a welcomed pause with family, but for others, it highlights the struggles of loss, loneliness, or unspoken pain.

As an American holiday, Thanksgiving may also bring images of Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a meal. According to history, this meal can be a great symbol of peace and gratitude. At the same time, this story is often debated in terms of accuracy; its essence centers on coming together and giving thanks, even amid hardship.

Amid the celebrations, the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians call us to a deeper understanding of what it means to be thankful:

Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God — 2 Corinthians 1:4 

This verse offers a perspective on comfort that reshapes how we approach gratitude. It reminds us that God doesn’t simply provide relief; He equips us to share it with others.

Comforting others

For many that gather around the table for next week’s “Turkey Day” — as some call it — we often give thanks for what we’ve received. For example, it’s a great time to be thankful for our health, families, and the beautiful cornucopia¹ decoration on their table. Yet, Thanksgiving offers more than an opportunity to “count blessings.” Perhaps Jesus may ask you to consider reflecting on how your blessings might be shared with others. 

While the Thanksgiving meal isn’t one of the 30+ meals and feasts mentioned in the Bible, nor a practice observed by the disciples or the Jewish people of scripture, its intent resonates deeply with Christian values. Although not commanded in the Bible, the heart of Thanksgiving — a spirit of gratitude and sharing — aligns with the teachings of Jesus and the call to love our neighbors.

The comfort Paul describes in 2 Corinthians is not passive. Matthew Henry reminds us, “The comforts which God gives us in our troubles are to qualify us to be comforters to others.” Our struggles teach us empathy. The peace we find in God’s presence is not meant to end with us — it’s meant to flow outward, becoming the comfort we offer to others in need.

With this perspective, Thanksgiving becomes more than a celebration of abundance. It can become an act of love and outreach to those needing it most.

For some, Thanksgiving feels heavy. “Empty chairs” at the table may remind us of loss. Financial strain can make gratitude feel forced. Paul’s words don’t dismiss these realities. Instead, they acknowledge them.

While not a tradition in my home — yet one we should consider — “empty chairs” can be a symbolic way of acknowledging the absence of loved ones who are no longer with us, particularly during significant gatherings like Thanksgiving or other family events. These “empty chairs” serve as visual and emotional reminders of those who may have passed away, moved away, or are otherwise unable to join the gathering. The emptiness symbolizes grief, change, or longing, bringing a bittersweet tone to moments that are otherwise filled with celebration and gratitude.

It’s also important to note that affliction is not the absence of God’s comfort; it’s often the place where His comfort is most deeply felt. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.” These moments of struggle — whether they are recent or long past — are not wasted. God uses them to draw us closer to Him and to prepare us to serve others.

How do we turn this comfort outward? While welcoming others we do not know into our home for a meal may sound noble, for many, it’s not how they are comfortable meeting the needs of others. Some families try to participate in an act of service. For example, they are volunteering at their church to cook and serve a meal to the homeless in their city.

But showing comfort to others also doesn’t require a grand gesture. It may be as simple as extending an invitation, offering a kind word, and or listening to someone with patience.

Think of your Thanksgiving table. Who needs to feel seen, heard, or loved amongst your family and friends? Perhaps think of the comfort you’ve received as motivation to meet people you already know in ways beyond talking about amazing shopping deals or football games.

Shadow of suffering

If I may, let’s explore some similarities between the Thanksgiving holiday and the Last Supper. But before you jump to label this post as heresy, please allow me to explain.

The Last Supper was Jesus’ final Passover meal with His disciples — a sacred tradition deeply rooted in Jewish history and worship. The Passover meal is not simply about eating; it invites those who partake to reflect on the profound purpose of the table before them. Each element of the seder plate carries significance, reminding participants of God’s deliverance, His faithfulness, and the community He established. Families gather, pass the seder plate, and share in a time of reflection not only on the past but also on the blessings of family and community present at the table.

Does this sound like any American holiday we know? While Thanksgiving has a distinctly American origin and history, it also revolves around gathering around a table, reflecting on the blessings of provision, and celebrating our relationships.

But is it possible that the Passover meal offers a deeper, more meaningful perspective on giving thanks than even our American Thanksgiving holiday? I think so.

The Last Supper, in particular, elevates the act of gratitude to a spiritual level. It points beyond earthly provision to eternal redemption. When Jesus gave thanks during the meal, He wasn’t simply expressing gratitude for bread and wine. He acknowledged God’s plan of salvation, even as He prepared to sacrifice Himself for humanity.

In this light, what if we considered the Thanksgiving holiday an example of the Last Supper? Could it inspire us to reflect on the blessings before us and God’s greater purpose for our lives?

What if Thanksgiving became more than a meal of gratitude? What if it became a moment to reflect on God’s purpose, giving thanks with a heart tuned to His eternal plan? Would this perspective add depth to your dinner table conversations? Could it bring a spiritual richness to discussions of the blessings you share? Would these reflections be transformed into opportunities to acknowledge God’s work in your lives and community?

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave His disciples a new understanding of Thanksgiving:

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, ‘Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me’ — Luke 22:17–19

Here, Jesus’ gratitude transcends earthly provision — it points to a spiritual gift. His thanks acknowledges God’s plan of redemption, even as He faces betrayal and suffering.

Both meals share elements of gratitude and fellowship, but they serve different purposes. As we celebrate it today, the Thanksgiving meal focuses on giving thanks for blessings, often tied to harvest and survival. The Last Supper, rooted in the Jewish Passover tradition, is a moment of remembrance and anticipation — gratitude for God’s deliverance in the past and hope for the salvation offered through Jesus.

When we consider what we know — or have been told — about the Thanksgiving meal between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, it’s clear they, too, were in the shadow of suffering. They thanked for survival in a foreign land and for a fragile but meaningful peace with their neighbors. For them, thanksgiving reflected an understanding of God’s provision during suffering.

In contrast, while also set against a backdrop of suffering, the Last Supper was forward-looking. Jesus prepared His disciples not for survival, but for the ultimate sacrifice He would make on the cross. This meal wasn’t just about thanksgiving for the past; it was an act of worship for what was to come — fulfilling God’s promise.

Matthew Henry’s commentary draws an important distinction: “The Passover was a memorial of the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt; the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of a greater deliverance wrought for us by the death of Christ.” Similarly, Thanksgiving reflects on provision under challenging times, while the Lord’s Supper points us to eternal deliverance through Jesus.

Thanksgiving is not just a call to gratitude — it is a call to action. It offers an opportunity for all of us, not just Christians, but all citizens of this nation, to recognize the comfort and abundance we’ve been given and to share it with those in need. It is a collective response to the blessings we enjoy, turning our gratitude outward and transforming it into compassion.

References

¹ In case you’re wondering, a cornucopia (kor-nuh-KOH-pee-uh), also known as the “horn of plenty,” symbolizes abundance often associated with Thanksgiving. Historically, it originated from ancient Greek mythology, where the cornucopia was a magical goat’s horn that could provide endless food and drink. Of course, its exact origins remain somewhat mysterious. Who’s to say it wasn’t a gift from benevolent aliens looking to help humanity perfect their holiday tablescapes?

The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the views or positions of my employer.